Coin-controlled mechanism.



No. 862,751. EATENTED AUG. 6, 1907.

J. E.. PACKARD.

GOIN GONTROLLED MECHANISM. Anmcnion FILED APB. 16. 1904.

l-Illl pum UNITED sTATns PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. PACKARD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO NATIONAL PENNY SALES COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. G, 1907.

Application filed April 16, 1904. Serial No. 203,410.

To all whom 'it may concern."

Be it known that I, JOHN E. PACKARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cool; and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the receiver or cradle into which a coin of the proper denomination is deposited and held vertically edgewise and crosswise for the action of a plunger against the coin to advance the re` ceiver or cradle into position to deposit a coin with the initial withdrawal of the plunger.

The objects of the invention are to furnish a coin receiver or cradle into which the coin will be deposited edgewise and /will be turned in the receiver or cradle so as to stand vertically crosswise to the movement of the plunger; to furnish a coin receiver or cradle one i portion of which is fixed or stationary and the other portion of which is movable away from the stationary portion to enable a coin to be deposited; to support the deposited coin on a stop or retainer within the movable section of the receiver or cradle and between guides formed on the stationary and movable sections of the cradle for the coin to be held facewise in position to be engaged by the plunger and have the movements of the plunger carry the movable section of the receiver or cradle to its advanced position for dropping the coin g to enable the stop orretainer to be vertically moved with the receiver' or cradle and in the event of a washer being employed, have such washer, with the withdrawal of the plunger, chop rearward of the retainer or stop lor the coin and out of the place of deposit for the coin to improve the means for holding the receiver' or cradle and the coin support or retainer in their advanced position at the initial withdrawal of the plunger to allow a coin to be deposited, and to improve generally the construction and arrangement of the various devices entering into the mechanism as a whole.

'Ihe invention consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the drawings Figure l is a side elevation, showing the position of the coin receiver or cradlefor depositing the coin with the operative mechanism in normal position; Fig. 2 a similar view to Fig. l showing the movable section of a coin receiver or cradle in its advanced position for dumping the caught coin and with the actuating mechanism at the limit of its movement to advance the coin receiver or cradle; Fig. 8 a top or plan view of the coin receiver or cradle; Fig. 4 a sectional elevation of the coin receiver or cradle, showing the coin stop or retainer broken off; Fig. 5 a sectional elevation of the coin receiver or cradle taken in the opposite direction to Fig. 4, with the coin retainer or stop in position to catch and hold up the coin; Fig. G a detail partly in section, showing the plunger for engaging the coin and advance the movable section of the coin receiver or cradle; and Fig. 7 an end elevation showing the coin receiver or cradle.

The coin receiver or cradle is mounted Iixedly on a rock shaft A supported in suitable bearings e, from a base plate or the bottom of the casing of the machine. The support B for the movable section of the coin receiver or cradle, consists of two plates or arms b, the lower ends b of which are lixedly mounted on the shaft A so that with the oscillation of the support B the shalt A will be rocked. The coin receptacle or cradle C of the movable section is in two sections, in the construction shown, one section c being formed with or suitably secured to the standard b of the support, and the other section c/ being in the form of a tube entered into and supported by the band or ring portion c of the receiver or cradle. The section c/ of the receiver or cradle has within its interior a spiral D, by which a deposited coin entering thereinto will be turned so as to stand upright and crosswise in front of the plunger. The spiral D, in the form shown, consists of two similar' ribs, each rib of a V shape in cross section, with a downA wardly inclined upper face d, starting at the top of the tube of, and with its body cZ/ running in a spiral course downwardly within the tube c, the lower ends of the two spiral ribs standing apart so as to leave a space (l2 between them in which the coin will be turned to stand edgewise vertical and crosswise as to the position the coin first entered the receiver or cradle, presenting the face of the coin for engagement with the plunger.

i The support B and the receptacle C for the deposited coin constitute the movable section of the coin receiver or cradle. The fixed section of the coin receiver or cradle consists of two standards or upright plates E, each standard or plate at its lower end having a flange e for attaching the standards or plates to a base plate or to the bottom of the casing of the machine. The upper end of each standard or plate is curved in the direction to lie beneath the coin receptacle of the receiver or cradle and this end ofthe standards or plates has a cross plate a in which is a hole e2, approximately in line with the center of the coin when deposited, through which hole the stem of the plunger passes to engage the face of the coin and carry the movable section of thc coin receiver or cradle away from the fixed section thereof. A coin stop or retainer F is located below the receptacle C of the coin receiver or cradle and this stop has ears f at its lower end by which it is mounted on the shaft A so as to oscillate with or on the shaft. The front plate or wall f of the coin retainer or stop has a ledge or flange f2 at its upper end, against which the edge of the coin 'will strike to support the coin in the space c3 between the plate e and wings e4, depending from the receptacle C as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the wings being on opposite sides of the receptacle with an opening between them as shown in Fig, fl. The coin stop or retainer F has a chamberF/ between its wall f/ and a rear wall j, into which space a washer, caught by the stem of the plunger, will drop with the return or' the plunger, thus preventing a washer from moving the movable section of the coin receiver or cradle.

The plunger is formed of an arm G, the lower end g of which is journaled on the shaft A so that the arm is free to swing on. the shaft as a pivot. rlhe upper end of the arm G has a boss or projection g/, extending out from which is a stem g2, which passes through the hole e2 for its end to engage the face of the deposited coin, held in the space c between the plates c and e with its edge resting on the retainer or stop. The arm G is oscillated or vibrated by a link l-l, one end of which is attached to a pin or stud h on the arm and the other end of which is attached to a pin or stud L/ on the actuating lever I, which lever is looselT journaled on its inner end on the shaft A and its outer end t' projects through the front wall of the casing and is adapted to be grasped by the hand so as to raise the lever.

One of the standards b has extending therefrom toward the front of the machine, in the arrangement shown a plate J having in its edge a series ol notches j and furnishing the means for holding the movable section of the coin receiver or cradle in its advanced position. A dog K, having a stop end la, is arranged for the stop end .7s to engage with the notches j of the plate J, as the movable section of the coin receiver or cradle is carried forward. This dog K is fixedly attached to a pin or pivot k/ mounted in the upper end of a standard or upright K attached at its lower end to a base plate or to the bottom of the casing of the machine. This pin or pivot k has extending upwardly therefrom an arm k2, terminating in a curved end la, with the face of which the end of a contact g3 engages, the contact extending out from a boss g2 on the arm so that the contact gis will rise and fall with the movements of the arm. The contact, when the parts are normalas shown in Fig. 1, engages the face of the curved end L3 and holds the dog K in a raised position, with its stop out of engagement with the notches or notch j of the plate J, so that the plate is released and permits the movable section of the coin receiver or cradle to be carried forward to its ad-' Vance position. rEhe release of the end k, allows the dog K to drop for its stop to engage with a notch j and when engaged hold the plate in its raised position, retaining the coin receiver'or cradle in its forward position, and with the return of the arm G by the release oi the actuating lever 1 the end of the contact g3 strikes the face of the end L and swings the dog K upward at its free end, releasing the stop from the caught notch j and allowing the plate J and with it the movable section of the coin receiver or carrier to return to normal position ready for the next operation.

The coin is deposited in the coin receiver or cradle by a coin chute L, which may be of any suitable construction adapted to transmit a coin-from the outside of the casing of the machine, and have the transmitted coin enter the slot c2 to engage the spiral D and be turned so as to stand vertically edgewise and crosswise in advance of the plunger. The coin chute can be supported in an elevated position within the casing or' the machine by uprights Z, as shown, or in any other suitable manner. The casing Mhas a bottom portion, in the construction shown, and side walls, the side walls not being fully represented as the construction of the casing forms no part of the present invention. The front wall is to have a slot m, permitting of the raising and lowering of the actuating lever l, and is to have a slot m for the passage of a coin to travel down the coin chute L and enter the movable section of the coin receiver or cradle.

The operation is as follows: The coin from chute L enters the slot c' of the movable section of the coin receiver or cradle and is turned, so as to stand vertically edgewise, and crosswise from its entering position, by the spiral D down which the coin descends. The descending coin is caught on the shell or Hangef2 of the coin retainerl or stop F and is -held in the space e3, between the )late e and the ouides or flanges e in osition for its face to be engaged by the stem of the plunger, when the plunger is raised and advanced. The free end or' the actuating lever I is raised by the purchaser and the upward movement of the body of the lever I, through the link H raises the arm G of the plunger and carries the stem gl forward to pass through the hole e2 and strike the face of the coin and the continued upward movement of the actuating lever 1, causes the plunger end or stem g2 to pass further through the hole e2, and such further advance oi the stem, by reason of the engagement of its end with the coin, carries the movable section of the receiver or cradle away from the fixed section and such advance movement continues until the limit of upward movement of the actuating lever is reached, at which time the movable section of the coin receiver or cradle has been advanced to a position where7 with the initial return of the plunger stom by the release of the actuating lever I, the caught coin will drop and will descend into a receptacle or box therefor passing in front of the coin stop or retainer F, which is in the position shown in Fig. 2 so as to allow a free descent of the caught coin. The movable section of the coin receiver or cradle and the coin retainer or stop remain in the advanced position shown in Fig. 2, until the contact g3 engages the end k3 and raises the dog K releasing the stop from the caught notch j and allowing the parts to'return to normal position. The stop c engaging a notch j, when the movable section of the coin receiver or cradle is in its most advanced position to allow a coin to deposit, any intermediate position of the coin receiver or cradle, between its normal position and its most advanced position, will not deposit a coin, as with the partial advance of the coin receiver or cradle its return will be prevented by the engagement of the stop k with a notch j, and until the full advance of the movable section of the receiver' or cradle is made,

the stop or retainer F is not carried to position to allow a caught coin to drop. This prevents any operation of the mechanism until the movable section of the rcceiver or cradle has been carried to its most advanced position. A washer, if entered into the coin receiver or cradle, will be inoperative to actuate the mechanism, as with a washer the hole therein will be in line with the thrust of the stem g2, so that the stem g2 will pass through the hole of the washer and will not contact the face of the washer to carry forward the movable section of the coin receiver or cradle; and with the withdrawal of the stem y2 by the return of the arm G to normal position, the caught washer' will drop into theclrarnber F back of the iront oi' the coin r'etainer or stop F, as such r'etainer or stop has been car'r'ied torwar'd a suiiicient distance ior the edge of the washer' not to contact the inclined shelf or angef", with the result that a clear space is presented through which the washer' will descend into the chamber' F/ wlrer'e it will be rrseless so far as operating the mechanism is concerned.

It will be seen that with the coin receiver or cr'adle of the present invention made in two sections, one of which is movable and the other immovable, the deposit of a coin in proper position presents the coin for its face to be engaged by the stem of the plunger', so as to carr'y the movable section oi the coin receiver or cradle into position to allow the coin to drop with the initial retur'n oi' the stem oi the plunger, that with a washer no movement or' the movable section oi the coin receiver or cr'adle can occur, as the stem g2 or' the plunger will pass through the eye or hole oi the washer; that in case oi a lead or other soit metal slug being used and deposited in the coin receiver or cradle, the action of the stem of the plunger, as it hears against the face of the slug, will bend the slug and force it out in the opening between the tlanges or guides e4 oi the movable section of the coin receiver or cradle, and this without advancing the movable section of the coin receiver or cradle to an operative position to discharge an article. The coin receiver or' cr'adle made in two sections is effective in operation with a coin oi the proper denomination deposited therein, but is r'ender'ed inoperative in the event ot the deposit of a washer or' soit slug, thus pr'eventing tokens, other than a coin of the proper denomination, actuating the movable section of the coin receiver or cradle.

What l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. ln a coin controlled mechanism, a head for a coin receiver or cradle having an annular' interior provided with oppositely arranged spir'ally inwardly extending' walls formingl two downwardly extending spiral r'ibs separated t'rom each other at the center and pr'oviding a spiral pathway for r'eceiving tlrer'einto a coin standing vertically edgewise and turning the coin in its vertical descent to present its side faces crosswise ot the entered position, substantially as described.y

ln a coin controlled mechanism, a head for a coin receiver or cradle comprising an exterior wall 0r' shell having an annular' interior with downwardly extending spiral ribs on the inner face o( the wall or shell, the r'ibs being wedge shaped in cross section and starting from opposite sides of the interior ot the wall or shell and extending around the wall or' shell to furnish a quarter' tur'n for a coin and havingtheir' spiral edges separated one from the other' at the center' to furnish a spiral pathway of. travel lfor receiving thcreinto, a coin, the coin, when entered, standing vertically et gewise and the spiral pathway turning the vertically descending coin, to present its side tac-es crosswise of the entered position, for the coin to discharge vertically and at right angles t0 its entered position. substantially as described.

Si. ln a coin controlled mechanism, a head for a coin receiver or cr'adle comprising an exterior' wall or shell having an annular' interior with downwardly extending spir'al ribs on the inner face of the wall or shell, the r'ibs being wedge shaped in cr'oss section and starting from opposite sides ot the interior of the wall or shell and extending around the wall or shell to furnish a quarter tur'n for a coin and having their' spiral edges separated one from the other at the center' to furnish a spir'al pathway of travel for r'eceiving ther-cinto a coin, the coin, when enter'ed, standing vertically edgewise and the spiral pathway turning the vertically descending coin, to present its side faces crosswise of the entered position, for the coin to discharge vertically and at right angles to its entered position, and a coin chute arranged in juxtarelation to the head and adapted to deliver' a coin vertically edgewise into the head, substantially as descr'ibed.

4. In a coin controlled mechanism, a head for a coin reA ceiver or cr'adle comprisingl an exterior wall or shell having an annular' interior with downwardly extending' spiral r'ibs on the inner face of the wall or shell, the r'ibs being wedge shaped in cross section and starting from opposite sides of the interior of the wall or shell and extending around the wall or shell to furnish a quarter tur'n for a coin and having their spiral edges separated one from the otlrel.' at the center' to furnish a spiral pathway of travel i'or receiving ther'einto a coin, the coin, when entered, standingl vertically edgewise and the spiral pathway turning the vertically descending' coin, to present its side faces cr'osswise ot' the entered position, for the coin to discharge ver'- tically and at right angles to its entered position, a coin chute arranged in juxtarelation to the head and adapted to deliver' a coin vertically edgewise into the head, and a coin chute located below the head and serving to maintain'the dropped coin in its cr'osswise position, substantially as described.

In a coin controlled mechanism, a vertically standing head for a coin receiver' or cr'adle comprising' an exterior wall or shell and interior spiral ribs, the ribs starting from opposite sides and each spirally descending' and furnishing', on opposite sides of the interior of the wall or shell from the starting point a descending spiral pathway of travel for receiving tlrer'einto a coin standing vertically and have the coin in descending` remain vertical and at the limit of descent have its side faces stand cr'osswise of the entered position, and a coin chute arranged in juxtarelation to the head on one side and delivering a coin ver'- tically edgewise into the head, substantially as described.

GA In a coin controlled mechanism, a vertically standing head for a coin receiver' 0r' cradle comprising an exterior wall or shell and inter'ior spiral r'ibs, the ribs star'ting from opposite sides and each spir'ally descending and furnishing on opposite sides of the interior of the wall or' shell from the star-ting point a descending spiral pathway of travel for receiving thereinto a coin standing ver'- tically and have the coin in descending r'ernain vertical and at the limit of descent have its side faces stand cr'osswise of the entered position, a coin chrrte arranged in juxtarelation to the head on one side and delivering a coin vertically edgewise into the head, and a coin stop located lbelow the head and servingl to maintain the dropped coin in its crosswise position, substantially as described.

7. In a coin controlled mechanism, a coin receiver or cradle consisting of a stationary section and a movable section, the stationary section comprising standards upwardly extending and a cross plate at the upper' end or the standards with a hole in the cr'oss plate, and the movable section comprising swinging srrppor'ting standards upwardly extending and a head carried by th'e standards and receiving thereinto and retaining therein a coin standing vertically edgewise, with the side faces oi the coin parallel with the cr'oss plate of the stationary section, and having the swinging standards of the movable section outside the standards of the stationary section and the head ol.' the movable section above the cr'oss plate ot the stationary section, means for directing a coin into the rcceiving and retaining head ot' the movable section, a coin stop arranged to maintain the coin in nor-mal position in the head, and means adapted to pass through the hole ot the cross plate of the stationary section of the coin receiveil or cradle and engage the coin and swing the head of the movable section with the retained coin away from the stationary section, substantially as described. l

S. In a coin-controlled mechanism, a coin receiver' or cradle consisting of a fixed section and a movable section, the fixed section comprising standards upwardly extending with a cr'oss plate at the upper' end of the standards and a hole in the cr'oss plate, and the movable section comprising swinging supporting' standards upwardly extending and a head carried'by the standards at their' ripper' end, the head having, on opposite sides and parallel with the cross plate of the fixed standards, guides coacting with the cross plate and furnishing a space for the reception of a coin to stand vertical and crosswise, with the side faces ol the coinparallel with the cross plate of the stationary section and having the swinging standards of the movable section outside the standards of the stationary section and the head ot' the movable section above the cross plate of the stationary section, a coin stop located below the head ofthe movable section ot' the receiver or cradle and in line with thc coin space for holding the coin vertical and cross wisc, and means adapted to be forced through the hole o1 the cross plate of thetixed standards and engage the coin and swing the head of the movable section with the retained coin away from the stationary section and into position to drop the coin, substantially as described.

S). In a coin-controlled mechanism, a coin receiver or cradle consisting ot a fixed section and a movable section, the tixed section comprising standards upwardly extendingl with a cross plate at the upper end ot' the standards and a hole in the cross plate, and the movable section comprising swinging supporting standards upwardly extending and a head carried b y the standards at their upper end, the head having, on opposite sides and parallel with the cross plate of the tixed standards, guides coacting w h the cross .plate and furnishing a space for the reception of a coin to stand vertical and crosswise, a coin stop located below the head of the movable section ot' the recclver' or cradle and in line with the coin space for holding the coin vertical and crosswise, and a plunger' consisting ot' an arln anda stem with the arm loosely mounted for the stem to pass through the hole of the cross plate o1 the stationary section o1' the coin receiver or cradle and engage the dropped coin and for the base ot' the arm to engage the coin stop and carry the movable. section of the coin receiver or cradle and the coin stop into position to drop the coin, substantially as described. t

10. In a coin controlled mechanism, the combination of a shaft, a pair ot standards lixedly mounted on the shaft. a coin receptacle on the upper endof the standard and having in its interior a spiral for turning a received coin vertically crosswise ot' the receptacle, guides on opposite sides o1' and within the receptacle below the spiral, a pair ot Iixed standards, a cross plate at the upper end of the` i` ed standards and having a hole therein and arranged in juxtarelation to the guides of the receptacle to furnish a coin space, and lneans for engaging the coin in the coin space and carrying the movable standards away from the lixed standards and into position todrop the coin, substantially as described.

11. in a coin controlled mechanism, the combination of a shaft, a pair of standards lixedly mounted on the shaft. a coin receptacle on the upper end of the standard and` having in its interior a spiral for turning a received coin vertically crosswise of the receptacle, guides on opposite sides of and within the receptacle below the spiral, a pair of tixed standards, a cross plate at the upper end ol the iixed standards and having a hole therein and arranged in juxtarelation to the guides of the receptacle to furnish a coin space, a coin stop mounted on the shaft, and means for engaging the coin in the coin space and the coin stop and forcing the movable standards away .from the lixcd standards and the coin stop into position to drop the coin, substantially as described.

12. In a coin controlled mechanism, the combination ot a shaft, a pair of standards tixedly mounted on the shaft, a coin receptacle on the upper end ot the sandard and having in its interior a spiral for turning a received coin vertically crosswse of the receptacle, guides on opposite sides of and within the receptacle below the spiral, a pair ot' iixed standards, a cross plate at the upper end oi the Iixed standards and having a hole therein and arranged in juxtarelation to the guides o1' the receptacle to furnish a coin space, a coin stop mounted on the shaft, an arm loosely mounted on the shaft, astem on the arm and arranged to pass through the hole o1 the cross plate to engage the coin and t'orce the movable standards away from the fixed standards and into position to drop the coinsubstantially as described.

13. In a coin controlled mechanism, the combination of a shaft, a pair of standards iixedly mounted on the shaft, a coin receptacle on the upper end of the standards and having in its interior a spiral tor turning a received coin vertically crosswise of the receptacle, guides on opposite sides of and within the receptacle below the spiral, a pair of n'xed standards, a cross plate at the upper end ot the iixed standards and having a hole therein and arranged in juxtarelation to the guides ot the receptacle to furnish a coin space, a coin stop mounted on the shaft, an arm loosely mounted on the shaft, a stem on the arm and arranged to pass through the hole of the cross p late to engage the coin and t'orce the movable standards away from the fixed standards and into position t0 drop the coin, an actuatingl lever and a link between the actuating lever and the arm for oscillating the arm, substantially as described.

14. In a coin controlled mechanism, the combination of a shaft, a pair of standards iixedly mounted on the shaft, a coin receptacle on the upper end of the standards and having in its interior a spiral for turning a received coin vertically crosswise of the receptacle, guides on opposite sides ot' and within the receptacle below the spiral, a pair ot'lixed standards, a cross plate-at the upper end ol the fixed standards and having a hole therein and arranged in juxtarelation to the guides of the receptacle to furnish a coin space, a coin stop mounted on the shaft, an arm loosely mounted on the shaft, a stem on the arm and arranged to pass through the hole of the cross plate` to engage the coin and force the movable standards away from the fixed standards and into position to drop the coin, an actuating lever and a link between the actuating lever and the arm for oscillating the arm, a notched plateI on the movable standards, and a dog engaging the notched plate for holdingl themovable standards in the advanced position, substantially as described.

15. In a coin controlled mechanism, the combination of a shaft, a pair of standards iixedly mounted on the shaft, a coin receptacle on the upper end o1 the standards and having in its interior a spiral for turning a received coin vertically crosswise of the receptacle, guides on oppositie s es ot' and within the receptacle below the spiral, a pair of lixed standards, a cross plate at the upper end of the tixed standards' and having a hole therein and arranged in juxtarelation to the guides of the receptacle to furnish a coin space, a coin stop mounted on the shaft, an arm loosely mounted on the shaft, a stem on the arm and arranged to pass through the hole of the cross plate to engage the coin and force the movable standards away from the fixed standards and into position to drop the coin, an actuating lever and a link between the actuating lever and the arm for oscillating the arm, a notched plate on the movable standards, a dog engaging the notched plate for holding the movable standards in the advanced position, a pivot for the dog, an arm havingl a curved end on the pivot, and a contact on the plunger arm for releasing the dog with the'return movement of the plunger. substantially as described.

JOHN E. PACKARD.

Witnesses i OSCAR W. BOND, WALKER BANNING. 

